How to Cut a T-Shirt Like "Coyote Ugly"

by Elana Kluner

Movie star Piper Perabo showed off her toned tummy with a cutoff fitted T-shirt in the 2000 classic “Coyote Ugly.” Her character, Violet Sanford, was a sassy songwriter who landed a bartending job in the heart of New York City. Her style resembled her grounded personality and go-getter attitude. She had a girl-next-door look about her, and her infamous, easy to make T-shirt made that even better.

Buy a T-shirt that’s form fitting. It can be new or old and any color, pattern or graphic. The “Coyote Ugly” T-shirt had a high neckline. Look in the boys' department to find a shirt with this fit.

Put on your T-shirt, and then determine how high you want the crop top to hang. Violet’s shirt fell at her waist, just above her belly button.

Make a mark with your pen at your chosen length. Take the shirt off, and lay it on a hard surface.

Take your ruler, and then measure the distance from the bottom of the T-shirt to the pen mark. Next, measure the same distances near the outermost point on the side of the shirt from the bottom up and make another mark. Repeat this on the opposite side. You should now have three marks in a horizontal line across the front of the shirt.

Connect the dots, using your ruler. Draw a straight line through them to ensure an even level.

Cut along the straight line, keeping the shirt as flat as possible. Aim just above the line so you don’t have any pen marks on your new design.

Remove the sleeves by cutting along the inside of each hemline. Violet’s T-shirt was a boyish, boxy shape with thick shoulder straps. Keep your scissors as close to the hemline as possible to achieve this look.

Items you will need

Fitted T-shirt

Scissors

Pen

Ruler

Warning

Cutting without creating a measured line may result in a crooked cut.

References

About the Author

Los Angeles-based writer Elana Kluner has been writing internationally since 2008. Her work has been published in M2Women Magazine, DANZ Quarterly, Central leader, Western Leader, The Other Duck and Spa Violet. Kluner graduated with a Bachelor's degree in creative writing from Auckland University of Technology and studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.